[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Histoire de la dernière révolution des États du Grand Mogol](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier) › [Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable) › 3.9 # Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 3.9 Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable) 3.9 - **Language:** English ### [3.9.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.9.1) I shall mention two other circumstances, although they happened during the reign of Chah-Jehan. The narration will be useful in showing that the barbarous and ancient custom obtains in this country, of the King's constituting himself sole heir of the property of those who die in his service. ### [3.9.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.9.2) Neik-nam-Kan was one of the most distinguished Omrahs at court, and during forty or fifty years while he held important offices had amassed an immense treasure. This lord always viewed with disgust the odious and tyrannical custom above mentioned, a custom in consequence of which the widows of so many great Omrahs are plunged suddenly into a state of wretchedness and destitution, compelled to solicit the Monarch for a scanty pittance, while their sons are driven to the necessity of enlisting as private soldiers under the command of some Omrah. Finding his end approaching, the old man secretly distributed the whole of his treasure among distressed widows and poor cavaliers, and afterwards filled the coffers with old iron, bones, worn-out shoes, and tattered clothes. When he had securely closed and sealed them, he observed that those coffers contained property belonging exclusively to Chah-Jehan. On the death of Neik-nam-Kan, they were conveyed to the King, who happened to be sitting in durbar, and who, inflamed with eager cupidity, commanded them to be instantly opened in the presence of all his Omrahs. His disappointment and vexation may easily be conceived ; he started abruptly from his seat and hurried from the hall. ### [3.9.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.9.3) The second is but the record of the ready wit of a woman. Some years after the death of a wealthy banyane, or Gentile merchant, who had always been employed in the King's service, and, like the generality of his countrymen, had been a notorious usurer, the son became clamorous for a certain portion of the money. The widow refusing to comply with the young man's request, on account of his profligacy and extravagance, he had the baseness and folly to make Chah-Jehan acquainted with the real amount of the property left by his father, about two hundred thousand crowns. The Mogol immediately summoned the old lady, and, in presence of the assembled Omrahs, commanded her to send him immediately one hundred thousand roupies, and to put her son in possession of fifty thousand. Having issued this peremptory injunction, he ordered the attendants to turn the widow out of the hall. ### [3.9.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.9.4) Although surprised by so sudden a request, and somewhat offended at being rudely forced from the chamber without an opportunity of assigning the reasons of her conduct, yet this courageous woman did not lose her presence of mind; she struggled with the servants, exclaiming that she had something further to divulge to the King. 'Let us hear what she has to say,' cried Chah-Jehan. 'Hazret-Salamei! (Heaven preserve your Majesty!) It is not perhaps without some reason that my son claims the property of his father; he is our son, and consequently our heir. But I would humbly inquire what kinship there may have been between your Majesty and my deceased husband to warrant the demand of one hundred thousand roupies?' Chah-Jehan was so well pleased with this short and artless harangue, and so amused with the idea of a banyan, or Gentile tradesman, having been related to the Sovereign of the Indies, that he burst into a fit of laughter, and commanded that the widow should be left in the undisturbed enjoyment of the money of her deceased husband. I shall not now relate all the more important events which took place, from the conclusion of the war in or about the year 1660, to the period of my departure, more than six years afterwards. I doubt not that the account would very much promote the object I had in view in recording some of them: namely, an acquaintance with the manners and genius of the Mogol and Indians, and I may, therefore, notice the whole of those events in another place. ### [3.9.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.9.5) At present, however, I shall confine my narration to a few important circumstances which regard personages with whom my readers have become familiar; beginning with Chah-Jehan, Although Aureng-Zebe kept his father closely confined in the fortress of Agra and neglected no precaution to prevent his escape, yet the deposed monarch was otherwise treated with indulgence and respect. He was permitted to occupy his former apartments, and to enjoy the society of Begum-Saheb and the whole of his female establishment, including the singing and dancing women, cooks, and others. In these respects no request was ever denied him; and as the old man became wondrously devout, certain Mullahs were allowed to enter his apartment and read the Koran. He possessed also the privilege of sending for all kinds of animals, horses of state, hawks of different kinds, and tame antelopes, which last were made to fight before him. Indeed, Aureng-Zebe's behaviour was throughout kind and respectful, and he paid attention to his aged parent in every possible way. He loaded him with presents, consulted him as an oracle, and the frequent letters of the son to the father were expressive of duty and submission. ### [3.9.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.9.6) By these means Chah-Jehan's anger and haughtiness were at length subdued, insomuch that he frequently wrote to Aureng-Zebe on political affairs, sent Dara's daughter to him, and begged his acceptance of some of those precious stones, which he had threatened to grind to powder if again importuned to resign them. He even granted to his rebellious son the paternal pardon and benediction which he had often with vehement importunity in vain solicited. It should not be inferred from what I have said, that Chah-Jehan was always soothed with compliant submission. I was convinced by one of Aureng-Zebe's letters, that he could address his father with energy and decision, when provoked by the arrogant and authoritative tone sometimes assumed by the aged monarch. I obtained a sight of a portion of the letter, which ran in these words : — ### [3.9.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.9.7) 'It is your wish that I should adhere rigidly to the old custom, and declare myself heir to every person who dies in my service. We have been accustomed, as soon as an Omrah or a rich merchant has ceased to breathe, nay sometimes before the vital spark has fled, to place seals on his coffers, to imprison and beat the servants or officers of his household, until they made a full disclosure of the whole property, even of the most inconsiderable jewel. This practice is advantageous, no doubt ; but can we deny its injustice and cruelty ? and should we not be rightly served if every Omrah acted as Neik-nam-Kan, and if like the Hindoo merchant's widow, every woman concealed her wealth ? 'I wish to avoid your censure, and cannot endure that you should form a wrong estimate of my character. My elevation to the throne has not, as you imagine, filled me with insolence and pride. You know by more than forty years' experience, how burthensome an ornament a crown is, and with how sad and aching a heart a monarch retires from the public gaze. Our great ancestor Ekbar, anxious that his successors should exercise their power with mildness, discretion and wisdom, recommended to their serious attention in the excellent memoirs left behind him, a fine characteristic of Mir-Timur. He recounts that on the day on which Bajazet was made prisoner, when he was brought into the presence of Timur, the latter, after attentively fixing his eyes upon the haughty captive, laughed in his face. ### [3.9.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.9.8) Bajazet, much offended at this rudeness, told the conqueror not to exult too extravagantly in his good fortune; "It is God," said he, "who exalts or debases Kings, and though you are victorious to-day, you may be in chains to-morrow." "I am very sensible," answered Timur, "of the vanity and mutability of earthly possessions, and Heaven forbid that I should insult a fallen enemy. My laughter proceeded not from any wish to wound thy feelings, Bajazet; it escaped involuntarily, while I was indulging a series of ideas suggested by the uncomeliness of both our persons. I looked at thy countenance, rendered unsightly by the loss of an eye; and then considering that I am myself a miserable cripple, was led into a train of reflections, which provoked me to laughter. What can there be within the circle of a crown," I asked, "which ought to inspire Kings with inordinate self-esteem, since Heaven bestows the bauble upon such ill-favoured mortals?" ### [3.9.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.9.9) 'You seem to think, that I ought to devote less time and attention to measures which I conceive essential to the consolidation and security of the kingdom, and that it would better become me to devise and execute plans of aggrandisement. I am indeed far from denying that conquests ought to distinguish the reign of a great Monarch, and that I should disgrace the blood of the great Timur, our honoured progenitor, if I did not seek to extend the bounds of my present territories. At the same time, I cannot be justly reproached with inglorious inaction, and you cannot with truth assert that my armies are unprofitably employed in the Decan and in Bengale. I wish you to recollect that the greatest conquerors are not always the greatest Kings. The nations of the earth have often been subjugated by mere uncivilised barbarians, and the most extensive conquests have in a few short years crumbled to pieces. He is the truly great King who makes it the chief business of his life to govern his subjects with equity,' and so forth. The remainder of this letter did not fall into my hands. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.9) · Pramāṇa